episode_0082

“After that… … ?”

“We fled as far away as possible to a safe place. We kept running and running, until we finally set up our flag here near Balharat territory. That is the moment of Acious’s beginning.”

Anima spoke in a very calm tone.

He calmly explained a very tragic incident.

“I lost my arm and could no longer use a sword. From that day on, I read every book on military strategy I could find. I thought what our military lacked was a tactician. Luckily, I guess I had some decent talent, so studying wasn’t that difficult.”

“… … Is that so?”

After hearing the explanation, I felt like I could understand why this country was working like this.

Does the tremendous sense of solidarity unique to those who contributed to the founding of Aishus County come from the sense of camaraderie that came from overcoming tragedy together?

Five people founded a country of this size, and not long ago, they even captured Rockline Castle…

In some ways, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was a fairly successful feudal lord.

Their true situation cannot be known from the simple explanation that ‘they have a deep sense of solidarity with their colleagues’.

Their strong camaraderie is certainly a value that shines to some extent in these difficult times, when deceiving and deceiving each other is the norm.

Conversely, will this camaraderie ultimately become a hindrance to Acious?

at that time.

Anima looked at me and suddenly opened her mouth.

“Zinor Nighthardt.”

“Yes?”

“He was the last prime minister of the unified empire. This is the person who ate the rust of the Eingart family.”

That moment.

Anima’s eyes flashed, even if only for a moment.

Inside, I could faintly read the anger that she must have kept hidden.

“There is no way that someone who held that position would not know what happened in the empire. If you didn’t know, I think there’s a problem. I admit that his abilities are outstanding. but… … If I had been a little better, I would have been fine with not having to entrust the role of state agent to someone from the old empire. It’s all because of my shortcomings.”

‘… … .’

“If I had been helpful, if I thought it would have been okay without having to borrow his power… … Even now, I feel like something inexplicable is sticking out of my throat. I feel sorry for everyone. Epinel. Emma and Hernandorf. And to Yuuri… … .”

is it.

Only then did I feel like I knew the reason for Anima’s protest.

Even though Jinor had done nothing wrong, he seemed to be rejecting him as he was a ‘high-ranking man’ in the empire.

In the past, it was clearly a soldier belonging to the Empire who attacked the Piviola Academy where she and Yuuri worked.

The only ones who could move those soldiers would have been members of the Eingart family.

It wasn’t just her who went through that, but other people as well, including Yuuri, and the situation itself, which she couldn’t accept, seemed to be quite difficult for her.

Come to think of it.

Luna was like that, and Anima was like that too.

For some reason, it seemed like something precious had been lost due to a family fight in the Eingart family.

I don’t know the exact reason… …

I felt like something was a bit contrived.

Aren’t all the causes too concentrated on the Eingart family?

It seemed as if the entire world’s resentment was focused on Serpina von Eyngart, the only surviving legitimate daughter of the empire.

To the point where it feels somewhat unnatural.

Of course, Serpina was a tyrant who captured and killed me in another dimension, but-

I couldn’t shake off a strange feeling of discomfort that was difficult to explain in words.

Is it right to cover it up and solve everything by saying she is a villain?

‘… … ‘That’s enough for now.’

Anyway, that was the second problem.

Now it was time to return this young lady in front of us to Yuuri.

In that case, let’s touch on something that might interest her.

“Anima. There’s something I didn’t tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Do you remember when I told you just now that we had recaptured Castle Lacline?”

“That’s right.”

“The lord said that he would like to appoint Anima to the position of lord of the castle.”

“… … !”

Anima’s eyes instantly became four hundred eyes.

Let’s try scratching the itch a little more.

“As you know, Anima, becoming the lord of a castle gives you a certain level of authority. That authority is an inherent authority that cannot be interfered with even by state officials.”

And then.

He looked her straight in the eyes and spoke as if he were a salesman.

“What do you think? Isn’t now the time to show Anima’s abilities once more?”

Anima didn’t answer for a while after hearing what I said, but then answered in a voice that seemed to be crawling.

“… … Are you talking about the seat of Seongju?”

“That’s right. I’ll say it again, you can exercise your own authority that even state agents cannot interfere with.”

I repeatedly said twice that state agents cannot intervene.

Anima must have realized my intention and looked at me meaningfully.

“Did you say Swen?”

“That’s right.”

“It seems like an interesting person has come to our country.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Anima must have found my words, ‘Thank you for the compliment,’ very amusing to her, and said with a smile.

“… … All right. Let’s follow Swen down the mountain.”

“Well thought out.”

What I said was 100% pure and sincere.

Because I didn’t want to come here again.

Anima muttered something softly and looked at my face.

“Could you please go out and wait for a moment? I have some things to organize. It won’t take long.”

* * *

Swen nodded at Anima’s words.

“It doesn’t matter if it takes a long time. Please take your time.”

“Thank you.”

After Swen left the house like that.

Anima was lost in thought with her hand on her chin.

‘Taking possession of Lacline Castle… … Brans County must have collapsed.’

Isn’t Brans the most threatening entity to the Aishous army?

In Anima’s opinion, there was no way to defeat Branth’s army on her own.

Because it seemed like there was no other way than to hold on somehow and hope that something would happen.

As I entered the mountain, I spent time reading through various military methods books or rewriting them as if organizing them.

News from the outside world was completely cut off, whether we wanted it or not.

All the people from Aceers County who came to visit were sent away. Since I set out to practice, I wanted to achieve decent results.

but.

If the situation changed suddenly, the story would be different.

What happened inside Brans County?

Or maybe Jinor did something of his own.

‘… … It won’t be too late to go back and think about it.’

While I was alone in the mountains, I thought a lot.

I no longer had any intention of continuing to be stubborn by citing my origins from the empire.

Nevertheless, if the opportunity to prove it comes – then I will gladly prove it.

‘… … .’

Anima recalled the white-haired young man who had confidently asked her just moments ago, ‘Isn’t it time to show Anima’s abilities once more?’

Those eyes. Anima had seen those eyes before.

It was a look you might have seen from Yuuri back when he was still attending the academy.

Those eyes that are so clear and confident that you can’t have them unless you’re a person who is confident that everything will go their way.

It’s still too early to judge him, but I thought he wasn’t just an ordinary human being you see everywhere.

A time when talented people gather.

Brans County collapsed.

‘perhaps… … There may be an opportunity for Aceers-kun.’

Honestly, it’s much better than winning the castle lord position –

This feeling of ‘an opportunity has come’ was what made her move.

I lived my whole life thinking only about the unification of the continent of Aishus County. Wouldn’t it be a shame if an opportunity came and you missed it?

After gathering her thoughts, Anima stood up, gathered the bare minimum of luggage, and left the room door.

* * *

The Knighthardt family mansion.

Reika, who had locked herself in her room, was rolling around on the bed, hugging a doll.

‘You didn’t come today… … .’

I was looking forward to going out with Swen.

Due to the call of Lord Yuuri, it seems that Swen cannot come here today.

‘There was something I wanted to show Swen… … .’

last night.

Reika was finally able to create not only a fireball but also something similar to a spear made of ice in her hands.

She lived her life without even thinking that she would use any other type of magic, and had guessed that making this ball of fire was the only thing that could be done with magic. For her, the fact that she was able to create something other than a ball of fire was very shocking in itself. It couldn’t be otherwise.

I felt much more mana in the mountains, and the moment I meditated – I vividly felt the feeling of something ‘piercing’ within my body.

From then on, for some reason, I felt like if I closed my eyes and collected mana, I could create something other than flame.

Coincidentally, my attempt to make the ‘Ice Spear’ that Swen had mentioned turned out to be a great success.

‘He is truly an amazing person…’ … .’

At this point, I couldn’t believe that he wasn’t a wizard.

How could someone who isn’t a wizard educate himself so well?

If you think about it that far…

What his adoptive father said came to mind again.

“What do you think of him as your father?”

‘… … .’

Naturally, a strong force went into the arm holding the doll.

Reika blushed and said the word ‘jiabi’.

Jiabi is, in other words, his wife. A companion who will be with you for the rest of your life.

Reika closed her eyes and imagined her life as Swen’s wife.

Make him something like bread or cake, and prepare a meal for him to eat.

A life of taking charge of household chores and raising three children for him who works hard.

Although I had an intuition that as a wizard I would one day be destined to go to battle – that didn’t mean I didn’t think about living a happy life with a man.

I heard that Swen was also a general who fought on the battlefield. Maybe his magic can help Swen.

It certainly wouldn’t be a bad life.

Reika herself didn’t dislike drawing such a future with Swen that much.

but.

‘Something… … Is it really okay like this? … ?’

There was a clear difference between ‘things I didn’t like’ and ‘things I liked’.

At the moment, he wasn’t sure how he felt.

I still didn’t know what kind of person Swen was.

Of course, it was something we would figure out as we got married and stayed together… … There was a possibility that he was a different person than Reika thought.

Maybe there was a strange castle wall that he couldn’t fill with his own abilities.

I felt a little pathetic for thinking such things at this time, but wouldn’t a couple naturally do what a married couple should do when they get married?

I wasn’t old enough to know such things.

‘I am… … ‘What do you want to do?’

My father also said that if you don’t like something, just say it.

Of course, I had no intention of refusing. Because I wanted to repay the kindness my father gave me.

Crucially, it seemed like he hadn’t even made an official marriage proposal to Swen yet, so it was an issue that didn’t require much thought.

Nevertheless, for Reika, who had lived a life far removed from this, she couldn’t help but think about it.

To become the wife of a man named Swen.

If that happens… … Can you do it well?

So, Reika spent some time thinking about her white-haired teacher.

Reika at this moment was not like the first wizard on the continent to discover mana.

She was just an ordinary twenty-year-old girl who stayed up all night thinking about the man who had the potential to become her husband.

* * *

“It’s been a long time.”

In front of the gates of Balharat Castle.

Anima stood there and looked at the red flag waving on the spire for a long time.

I naturally felt countless emotions rushing like a tidal wave into her flag-filled eyes.

I didn’t say anything and waited by her side for her brief recovery.

“… … Thank you for waiting.”

“No.”

I nodded slightly and followed Anima into the castle.